case and how this engine produced such different results on the road compared to the lab where the cheating took place. but the politicians weren't interested they wanted to help the car industry. auto executives told them it was becoming more expensive to meet emissions limits and asked them to help by turning a blind eye gentlemen and there was obviously a gentleman's agreement here as long as you meet the test standards we won't look at the road results so despite our demands they never did but not with that. but it often takes two sides to commit fraud the cheaters and those who agree to be cheated. for example every driver knows that they'll never come close to the fuel mileage listed on the sticker. what does that say about us germans is environmental protection important only on paper and not such a big deal in practice we live in that we have become

a bit complacent for years germany has been a leader in conservation and environmental protection and we still have that reputation abroad we've convinced ourselves that we're better than a lot of others but the fact of the matter is that on climate protection on the c o two reduction we've made no progress in recent years. that's. a lot of countries have overtaken us in other areas too. and right now we're in the bottom served of e.u. members on all sorts of environmental standards it's about thinking. we also a bit fickle on environmental protection a few years ago the diesel was considered a clean engine but not anymore. still lots of people trusted those claims and bought diesel cars. because they think there's always the. but i think it's even worse than that consumers are still quite concerned about the

environment and they simply trusted the auto industry and the a series when they claimed that diesels were clean and climate friendly. but there has been massive cheating in germany that it's at least as extensive as what we saw with nitric oxide and carbon dioxide numbers. in full speed and we've already uncovered several cases of this cheating such as how they faked lower fuel consumption levels and tests this is criminal behavior with the german government is looking into this for the first time but it's not doing enough consumers thought that the new diesels were cleaner but when it comes to nitrogen dioxide they're actually four to seven times dirtier than a thirty year old diesel think is a few months ago. so millions of people who bought diesel cars are now threatened with driving bans in city centers and it's nine million people have bought diesel cars that have the latest certification they were told at the

cars were environmentally friendly and city driving wouldn't be a problem for a long time. but what should they do with their cars now. they should wait a few more days and hope that we can reach an agreement with lawmakers to would require the auto industry to retrofit the engines. or they could go to their dealer and demand their money back or a retrofit that would set a precedent. but that's now the job of politicians to finally force the auto industry to do this and they do have the means to do this moment. they can apply e.u. law and impose severe penalties. to your software for who you know will soon close the first streets to dirty diesels but people just take other routes how does that help the environment. and if it won't because the courts have said that bypass roads must also be blocked and as soon as people start using those know you'll be

watching that development very closely. you know but it'll be traffic chaos. block off the whole city that's why we were able to push through a second option to ban diesels from the environmental design at the entire city is an environmental dissolved if diesels are kept out there's no more bypass traffic and this also has to be done and how. is that. that's remarkable. here you are an environmental organization and you're suing the government to force that to implement its own laws as that and you've been doing that a long time. and you've been successful month you seem to be on a personal campaign for the environment as a sort of white knight how do you see yourself you know with a form of i've been doing this now for thirty five years and i do it once and to see as a man great joy every day. i enjoy it most when we don't have to go to court.

we try to convince industry and increasingly government officials dialogue so that they'll obey the law that. we shouldn't have to demand that the police chase a bank robber. but what do you do when you see the police robbing the bank. and do you call the state must enforce air and water quality standards they can't stand idly by and say there are. it's that we can't meet so we let thirteen thousand people die every year four times more than in traffic accidents and it's a trivial offense. in the u.s. b.w. executives are behind bars for violating clean air regulations but here they get medals for sort of thing this but once becomes a win is what the squads. that we're coming to the end of our interview. i'd like you to complete the sentences. my most beautiful car journey was. with them

fall on my bike go no car and. drive a car but i really don't like to me and i prefer to go on a bike tours around like constants with my electric bike. when i'm bored and you also like to take your solar boat out on lake constance. what's the best thing about that and i'm just. going relax and contemplate the future so i just wish that in germany we would further develop a symbiosis between nature humanity and culture and i'm not happy that we can make a small contribution including more livable cities the state the theater the future of my children i would most like to see. all the living there and clean water you're going with us thank you it's my pleasure.

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